Two police transparency bills advance in Senate Judiciary Committee
With the backing of police chiefs and sheriffs statewide, two law enforcement transparency bills won easy, unanimous passage in a Colorado Senate committee.
Public Records Laws
Video: Sunshine Week panel on getting information from criminal justice records
The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act isn’t as well known or as well understood as its sister statute, the Colorado Open Records Act. That’s why the CFOIC assembled a panel of experts to discuss the law that governs the release of criminal justice records – and to provide tips and workarounds for getting the records you want.
Commentary: State agencies in Colorado need to upgrade their email retention capabilities
As our friends at the Sunlight Foundation recently wrote, “Our legally-protected access to public email records – the most voluminous source of official written records – is failing.” That’s true here in Colorado.
Bill to allow sealing of misdemeanors for one-time offenders killed in House committee
A bill to let one-time offenders petition to seal the public records of their misdemeanors died in a House committee following opposition from prosecutors, victims’ advocates and law enforcement officials.
Lawmakers unveil body cam, “right to record” and other bills to improve police transparency
Hoping to restore public confidence in law enforcement, Colorado lawmakers unveiled a legislative package that includes four bills focused on police transparency.
House committee tables bill on reporting of school safety violations
Hoping to find a compromise that satisfies school districts and law enforcement agencies, state lawmakers tabled a contentious bill aimed at improving the reporting of safety and disciplinary violations at Colorado schools.
Lawmakers vote to open certain records of the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections
State lawmakers moved to open certain records of the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections in response to news reports about violent incidents at youth corrections facilities.
Video: Lawyers discuss gray areas of Colorado’s public records law and open meetings law
What do you get when you ask three lawyers to discuss the ambiguous aspects of the Colorado Open Records Act and the state’s Sunshine (open meetings) Law? The answer is not four opinions.
Jeffco teachers’ union gets injunction to stop release of names of teachers involved in sick out
The Jefferson County teacher’s union has taken legal steps to block the Jeffco school district from releasing additional names of high school teachers who collectively called in sick last September.
House Judiciary Committee kills bill to make the state public defender’s office subject to CORA
State lawmakers defeated a bill that would have made the State Public Defender’s Office subject to the Colorado Open Records Act, preferring to let the Colorado Judicial Branch write its own rules for releasing administrative records for that agency and other agencies under its control.